http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk 15
Anticipation
and options
Pre-empting gaps in
the clouds and their
speed and movement
will deliver. I generally
use either f/8 or f/
for the majority of my
shots with this style
of photography. If I
have the telephoto
on, it can be f/4 or
f/5.6. It can go very
dark! You’ll be
scanning the whole
scene, anticipating
‘that moment’ and it
appears where you
would never have
thought, as the
‘show’ will randomly
appear on a small
crag or slope being
just as dynamic. Also,
consider a simple
three-shot panorama
of the same situation
by adding overlapped
images either side of
the main one.
Waterproof bag
I recommend investing in a
good-quality, fully waterproof
bag. It is imperative that you
keep your kit dry and safe
from the elements. Even if you
don’t intend to go out in
downpours, you never know
when you might get caught in
one unexpectedly.Brolly bracket
This is an extremely handy
accessory for positioning a
brolly over my kit to protect it
from drizzle. However, use
with caution on breezy days.BEST KIT
Shoot
handheld
I generally use a
solid, robust tripod in
my work but have found
that using the camera
handheld, with the
stabiliser on and upping
the ISO, works well. The
exibility of movement
affords a greater chance
of getting the shot. That
isn’t set in stone but if the
weather system is moving
fast, you need to as well.
Pushing between ISO 400
and 800 gives very good
results. Noise is not as
evident as it once was and
irrespective, I think a little
graininess can add to the
drama of the image.Using lters
Whilst some bracket or
shoot HDR, I always use
my grads. Just my
preference and the way I
work. I use both ‘100’ and
‘85’ systems depending
upon lens choice. There’s
always the potential for
rain spots, irrespective of
how you protect the kit. To
maximise this, I attach a
lens hood. I utilised them
making TV programmes
because they can reduce
unwanted light, adding
another layer of protection.
If really bad, I will drape a
cloth over the top of the kit
just to be sure.Lenses and kit
My bag is completely waterproof, and I use three weatherproof lenses. This
gives me options achieving a wider scope of photographs to ‘document’ the
effects of a storm as it approaches, hits and moves on. However, your choice and
decisions will be dictated by the speed of the weather passing through and because
of that I nd that the 16mm or 16-55mm lenses get most use. My largest lens is no
bigger than 210mm and that allows me to ‘cherry pick’ tighter scenes that occur.